Dr. Warner V. Slack

Warner V. Slack, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, died June 23, age 85. Dr. Slack was among the first physicians to envision the essential role that computers would play in medicine and healthcare delivery. His landmark work involving computer-patient interviews, begun during the 1960s, anticipated by decades the now-prevalent field of electronic medical records.

A New Jersey native, Dr. Slack was a 1955 graduate of Princeton, and a 1959 graduate of Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. He served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force in the Philippines during the early 1960s.

Loved ones recall his warmth, optimism, gentleness and generosity. He was happiest spending time with wife Carolyn and family at their cabin on Meddybemps Lake in Maine. A long-time Newton resident, he was a trustee of Lasell College.

In addition to his wife of 62 years, Dr. Slack is survived by daughters Alison and Jennifer, son Charlie, and 7 grandchildren. Grandson Sean Peters died last year.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 27 at 3 pm at the Memorial Church in Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Warner Slack Scholarship for Clinical Informatics, 1330 Beacon Street, Suite 400, Brookline, MA 02446.

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